Thursday, December 19, 2013

MURFREESBORO — “MTSU
On the Record,” the public affairs radio program that connects listeners with
the campus community, brightens the holidays with stories of two inspiring
college students.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Kyla Hallums, whose
education was interrupted by a life-threatening condition, will air from 5:30
to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23, and from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, on WMOT-FM
(89.5 and www.wmot.org).

Hallums, a 20-year-old business management major from
Lebanon, Tenn., was carrying her laundry from her apartment to her car on Sept.
1 when she collapsed.

After being transported to Vanderbilt University Medical
Center, doctors found a pulmonary embolism, a blockage of a major blood vessel
in the lung, about 15 inches in length in both her left and right pulmonary
arteries.

Although she missed the fall semester due to her illness,
Hallums is eager to resume her studies with the spring 2014 semester beginning
in January.

“God pulled me through this, and I honestly think that’s the
only reason that I made it, that and all the support of all my friends and
loved ones,” said Hallums.

Logue’s interview with Malcolm Stallard, president of the
Blue Raider American Veterans Organization, or BRAVO, will air from 5:30 to 6
p.m. Monday. Dec. 30, and from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5.

Stallard, a sophomore social work major from Manchester,
Tenn., who served in Iraq from 2009 to 2010 and has served in the U.S. Army
since 2008, strives to help veterans who are negotiating the transition from
military service to college education obtain access to the resources they need.

Speaking about how his military experience has changed him
as a person, Stallard said, “I focus more on others. I guess I learned that
because of taking care of my soldiers. I want to provide the best training and
also the best education for them, and I find myself doing that here at MTSU as
well.”

To listen to previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, go to
the “Audio Clips” archives at http://www.mtsunews.com.

For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or
WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

Three Christmas trees across campus were decorated with Li’l
Raider ornaments that listed a child in need, gender, clothing size and wish
list. Revived last year, the effort targets MTSU students with children as well
as parents being served by the Domestic Violence Program.

About 30 ornaments were available this year, all of which
were adopted by various Secret Santas around campus. A Christmas Party was held
Friday, Dec. 13, at the MTSU Public Safety Office on Main Street, including food,
fellowship and an appearance by Santa himself (aka dispatcher Cody Travis) to
hand out gifts.

“We had a great turnout, lots of fun and the families truly
appreciated the support of the MTSU community,” said Sgt. Vergena Forbes,
community policing specialist with MTSU Public Safety and a coordinator of the
effort. “We truly appreciate the terrific response from the campus to spread
holiday cheer to those in need.”

As she watched the excited children eagerly await Santa’s
arrival that evening, Deborah Johnson, executive director of the local Domestic
Violence Shelter, noted that the university’s police department “has been a
real collaborator with us.”

When the local domestic violence program started 27 years
ago, other established shelters told local organizers that law enforcement
partnerships would be hard to develop, Johnson Said.

“We decided that in Rutherford County that was not going to
be the case, and we established relationships with law enforcement right off
the top,” she said. “We’re there for each other.”

Several campus police officers, including Chief Buddy
Peaster, attended Friday’s party, giving them a chance to interact with the
children and their parents in a more relaxed environment.

“It establishes relationships, like the little girl talking
to the officer,” said Johnson, pointing to one of the Li’l Raider attendees. “Maybe
an officer came to the house and arrested Daddy, but here they can see that
these aren’t bad people.”

For more information about the Li’l Raiders program, please
contact Sgts. Vergena Forbes or David Smith at 615-898-2424.

MURFREESBORO — Middle Tennessee State University will be
closed from Tuesday, Dec. 24, to Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, for the Christmas and
New Year’s Day holidays.

With a few exceptions that include Public
Safety (campus police), Facilities Services, Housing and Residential Life and other
essential personnel, all university offices and departments will be closed
during this time.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.
— The presidents of MTSU and Alabama A&M University signed a
memorandum of understanding Friday (Dec. 13) that encourages greater
collaboration on faculty and student scientific research in the areas of
aerospace, agriscience and engineering.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee signed the agreement with
AAMU President Andrew Hugine Jr. following McPhee’s visit to campus as keynote
speaker for the commencement ceremony at the historically black university. Hugine
also awarded McPhee with the AAMU President Medallion for his career as a
higher education administrator.

Under the agreement, MTSU and Alabama A&M will actively
seek to participate in and enhance faculty and student research and training
programs, as well as provide access for each institution’s students to
education and training programs not available at the other.

MTSU will specifically provide AAMU students with access to
academic programs in the areas of engineering management, computational science
and its nationally recognized aerospace program, while AAMU will provide access
to MTSU students in the area of engineering.

“This partnership emphasizes the scientific research
strengths within both institutions,” McPhee said. “It gives our students and
faculty access to the opportunities they need to enhance their skills and
compete in a global marketplace that increasingly demands such expertise.”

Hugine said the agreement was “a wonderful opportunity for
our faculty and students” and an expansion of an already strong relationship
between the two universities.

Officials said the three-year agreement builds upon two
successful collaborations between the two universities: Both are partners in a
consortium for a federal Unmanned Aircraft Systems test site as well as a
three-year National Science Foundation-funded Partnership for Innovation in
Technology grant.

Chance M. Glenn Sr., AAMU professor and dean of the College
of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences, and Michael Allen, MTSU vice
provost for research and dean of graduate studies, are coordinating the effort.

“We are extremely excited about the endless possibilities of
this mutually beneficial partnership,” Glenn said. “We have had an enthusiastic
team comprised of faculty and staff from both universities working diligently to
make this become a reality. We eagerly anticipate the fruits of this
relationship.”

The agreement notes that both institutions will ensure that
students have access to expert staff and state-of-the-art equipment and
software; will mentor and train select students from the other institution in
their graduate or undergraduate research; and will provide speakers for
institute seminars.

“This MOU creates an opportunity for MTSU and AAMU to work
together on proposals for research grants in areas where we have complementary
strengths, such as unmanned aerial systems, robotics and precision
agriculture,” Allen said. “Groups of the MTSU faculty have already visited
with AAMU faculty and are actively working on NSF proposals.”

Founded in 1875 and established as a land-grant institution
in 1890, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University is located just minutes
from downtown Huntsville, Ala. With an enrollment of roughly 6,000 students,
the university has five undergraduate schools (Agricultural & Environmental,
Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, and Engineering & Technology) and
Graduate Studies.

Bud Fischer, MTSU dean of the College of Basic and Applied
Sciences, said the MOU “creates an outstanding opportunity to bring together
faculty and student researchers from both institutions to work together on
collaborative, cutting-edge research projects in engineering and aerospace.”

Monday, December 16, 2013

MURFREESBORO
— Launching careers and juggling new responsibilities will be a wonderful
challenge, Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed told new MTSU graduates today, but
carving out time for community service is critical, too.

"You are leaving this beautiful campus of higher education equipped
with the necessary skills to participate in life. You do not have to take a
sideline to anyone," the veteran educator told her newly minted fellow
MTSU alumni at the morning commencement ceremony for fall 2013 at Murphy
Center.

"You have the background to make a difference. MTSU has prepared
you for that.

"Find something you're passionate about, something you love,
something that will further your philosophy of life. When you find that
something, jump in, get involved, step up and take a leadership role."

Reed, who earned her Bachelor of Science in early childhood education
from MTSU as well as a master’s and an education specialist’s degree, started
her career as a teacher. She has served on the Smyrna Town Council since 2003
and became the town’s first female mayor in August.

"I want you to know that your hometown and your university needs
community-minded MTSU graduates to become involved in decision-making that
makes an impact on the quality of life for your community,” she said.

Fellow alumnus Bill Ketron, who represents the 13th Senatorial District
in the Tennessee General Assembly, also encouraged the new graduates to commit
to their communities, but he reminded them to always “remember where you came
from” as well.

Saying that he was “going to do something that’s never been done at
graduation here,” the state senator told the students at the afternoon ceremony
to “stand up, put your phones down in your seats and give it up for everybody
who’s been a part of your lives, for everybody that loves you.”

The resulting ear-splitting applause and cheers from the new graduates
on the floor of Hale Arena echoed around Murphy Center and was returned by
their loved ones in the stands, who waved back and applauded, too.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee asked the new graduates to continue the
tradition of excellence exemplified by the 100,000-plus MTSU alumni they’re
joining around the world.

"You may feel that your long journey is over, but we … see it as
just a comma in your story," he said. "Today is just the beginning of
greater things to come.

"We look forward to seeing the far-reaching impact of what you've
learned in your studies."

The top of one grad’s mortarboard, where clear sequins spelled out “UT
CoP ’18,” provided a glimpse of her future. Accepted to the University of
Tennessee College of Pharmacy, biochemistry major Sara Adams of Manchester,
Tenn., will begin classes next fall in Memphis.

“It really hasn’t hit me yet that today is the actual day,” said Adams,
who graduated cum laude and became a certified pharmacy technician in August.
“Ultimately, what it means is what it means to my mom.”

Her mother, Linda Adams of Manchester, has multiple sclerosis. Also
attending the ceremony were grandparents Mitz and Wilbur Gesell and cousin
Julie Gesell, all from Manchester, and Sara’s father, John Adams of
Murfreesboro.

Among the many nontraditional students graduating was 25-year-old
Brandon Myles, a liberal studies major from Pulaski, Tenn.

Myles earned his associate’s degree three years ago from Northwest
Mississippi Community College, where he played quarterback on the football
team. An injury and two subsequent surgeries changed his perspective and his
academic future, and he transferred to MTSU two years ago.

Myles plans either to continue in the parks and recreation field or
enhance his education by earning an information technology certification at a
local technology center.

“In fact, I’d like to combine both if I can,” Myles said. “What you put
into it is what you get out of it.”

MTSU presented 1,977 students — 1,655 undergraduates and 322 graduate
students — with degrees in two ceremonies today.

Students from the College of Graduate Studies, Basic and Applied
Sciences, Jennings A. Jones College of Business and the College of Education
received their degrees in the morning ceremony. Students in the College of
Behavioral and Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Mass
Communication and the University College received their degrees in the
afternoon celebration.

You can see a gallery of photos from the commencement ceremonies at http://ow.ly/rLTxH.

Graduation information — including official
photographs and DVD purchase details — is available anytime at http://www.mtsunews.com/graduation-info.
You also can view a PDF of the complete 40-page Dec. 14 commencement program at
http://ow.ly/rwy2d.